Clients with Complex Health States

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2010:

A pass in the following subjects prior to enrolment:

This subject requires students to actively and safely contribute to clinical activities. Students who think their disability will impact on meeting this requirement are encouraged to discuss this matter with the Nursing Course Coordinator and the Disability Liaison Unit.

This subject integrates the knowledge and skills gained in Nursing Science 1 & 2, Nursing Assessment and Care, Clients with Acute and Chronic Illness, to care for patients experiencing complex health problems. The role of nurses in collaborating with allied disciplines in delivering health care to these individuals will be explored. Issues such as readmission including emergency admissions, triage, transition issues, referrals, hospital in the home, case management and populations with special needs will be a focus for discussion.
In the clinical skills laboratory students will practice complex procedural skills including for example complex wound dressings, central venous catheter management, venepuncture, management of the artificial airway, underwater seal drainage. Students will develop skills in advanced life support and cardiac monitoring.
In the clinical practicum under the guidance of clinical educators and mentors, students will gain experience in settings that enable them to meet the learning objectives of this subject.
The major focus for the clinical practicum component of this subject is the integration of the principles for holistic nursing, clinical decision making and more complex and advanced nursing interventions.

On completion of the subject it is expected that while providing therapeutic interventions, students are able to incorporate the further collection of health assessment data and adjust care accordingly for 2-3 patients.

At the completion of this subject students should be able to:

• demonstrate competency in physical and psychosocial assessment;
• accurately and professionally document data collected by applying health assessment principles;
• apply clinical reasoning and problem solving skills to their knowledge of developmental processes, specific disease processes and drug groups;
• incorporate the principles of cultural safety and understanding when developing and implementing care;
• incorporate the principles of evidence-based practice and apply an evidence based approach to the delivery of nursing care;
• develop and write comprehensive care plans for patients with complex acute/chronic illnesses;
• demonstrate skills in prioritising care and time management;
• implement and document comprehensive nursing care;
• evaluate outcomes of nursing management and revise care plans accordingly;
• communicate effectively with patients/families/carers, peers and other members of the health care team;
• assess health teaching needs of individuals/ families/ carers;
• apply the principles to plan , implement and evaluate health teaching programs;
• demonstrate the capacity to work effectively as a member of a multidisciplinary team in the delivery of health care.

Theoretical Component 50%

a) 2,000 word assignment 20%
b) 3 hour exam 30%

Clinical Component 50%

a) Clinical Practicum Performance Assessment 20%
b) Clinical Practice Analysis 2x 750 words 20%
c) 10 minute Medication Log Quiz x 5 quizzes on LMS 10%

Hurdle Component

a) 15 minute drug calculation test

Students must pass the theoretical, clinical & hurdle components to achieve a pass in the subject

Stedman’s medical dictionary for the health professions and nursing. Australian and New Zealand Edition (5th ed.). (2005)

Perrin, R. (2009). Pocket guide to APA style (3rd ed.). Boston: Houghton Mifflin College.

Education Innovations. (2005). Nursing Calculations (Version 6.0.0). ( General Relativity Pty Ltd, CD-ROM 2005 release).

Bullock, S., Manias, E., & Galbraith, A. (2007). Fundamentals of pharmacology (5th ed.). Australia: Frenchs Forest: Pearson Education.

Crisp, J. & Taylor, C. (2009). Potter and Perry’s Fundamentals of Nursing (3rd ed.). Chatswod, NSW: Elsevier Australia.

Lim, A. (ED). (2008). Australia New Zealand Nursing & Midwifery drug handwbook (4th ed.). Broadway, NSW: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.

Elder, R., Evans, K., & Nizette, D. (2009). Psychiatric and mental health nursing (2nd ed.). Sydney: Elsevier Mosby

Brown, D., & Edwards, H. (2008). Lewis’ medical-surgical nursing (2nd ed.). Sydney: Elsevier Mosby.

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.

At the completion of this subject, students should be able to demonstrate:

• the capacity for information seeking, retrieval and evaluation;
• critical thinking and analytical skills;
• an openness to new ideas;
• cultural safety;
• planning and time management skills;
• the ability to work effectively in a team;
• the ability to communicate knowledge through classroom and web-based discussions and written material.